To: Who ever wants to anser From: Oberstarbeiter Mary Annelise Dross, Nightcrawler der Alster Union. Subject: Silence
Good day,
Honored Lane Hackers, we did not spoke to each other for a long time now, I would appreciate it if we could change that.
A Improvement of our relationship in a buisness or every other way would be very appreciated
I hope we can arrange a meeting in the close future.
Sincerely,
Für die Union, für Unser Rheinland
Mary Annelise Dross
Oberstarbeiter,Krefeld, Köln
It is not like I can say what's on our beloved Professorship's mind... I can only speculate that they decided to wait until The Unioners and The Battlegroup Harmony have a clear idea on what they want to do. Exactly a month ago we received a warning from you that Knight is talking with Locklear[source] and then the entire hell broke loose. On one day we receive a dramatic call to arms[source] against the Legion just to see a day later that you are trying to negotiate a peace[source] with them. On top of reports of minor incidents between you and the Battlegroup my personal mission to Admiral got frozen[source] until so called "further notice".
I will be frank with you. Knight has been acting like a teenage girl on a prom unsure with whom she should loose her virginity. Die Union, on the other hand, acted like a jealous teenage boy raging and crying interchangeably. It was a truly adorable show but somehow I doubt the Professors would like to take part in it. I was told that the official stance of the Professorship is to wait until you two resolve your differences and Knight finally makes her mind.
Our attention right now is directed towards Shikoku. We have relocated some assets there, which is also a good idea considering that recently The Hellfire Legion has been flexing its muscles. I was told that several days ago they were bold enough to invade New York with a group of four battleships with escorts. Besides that it is business as usual. We had considerable luck with hitting Copper Ore operations in Kansas lately and will most likely further exploit this opportunity when The Legion attention is directed towards Liberty core systems.
As for the meeting, I certainly would love it to happen, lovely Miss Dross. We could certainly discuss the underworld politics and get to know each other better.
To: Malprave. From: Gunda Riehl. Subject: Be nice. Mary's not coming to you on her knees, she's coming to you as an equal. This is an alliance between mutual, equal, parties. We are not going to fence with you.
I'm just gonna' slidddde in right here and warn you not to insult the Dross, dorkslice, from the sanctity of your neuralnet terminal, nor to mention prom
verginity because you sure didn't get any. Likely because yer' arms are pretzles and you speak like a nerd. Go lift.
So, d'yall actually have sex or is it mostly jerking it to porn inbetween crap-talking on the dark web and handing tradelane cargo manifests to the real pirates? Fancy robot vibes don't apply.
The long and short of it is that we're smugglers, we'll always be better at meaningless trashtalking theatrics. We respect your reasons for salsa-ing the night away with the Maltese, act expectant that there's some logical reasoning behind our attitude towards the battlegroup. We wanted to see what Knight would do if she felt all sides were pushing her to hardball, hoping that she'd act off first principles and go with her gut, which would tell us what she really believed.
Seems to have worked. Relations with Harmony are stable, and we're back supporting them in combat against the Liberty Navy. We've even worked quite stably with some of yer' independent associates in the last few days. It's always reassuring to see the Hackers at our side.
Mary's not an expendable. She's a major player in the direktorate, and she's coming to you because we trust you, even if your insults are a load of wallop and not the kind you get from a cudgel. Fact is, we trust you as far as we do ourselves.
But if you call Mary "sweet" again, she'll remove your eyeball with a paperclip. Seen it happen, nearly had it happen to me. We came respectfully to you, you treat us with respect back. That's unwritten rule of an underworld that is based upon inter-institutional trust.
Stay on the level. No "Sweet Miss", no insults as to each other's organisational overstructure. It's never won you points with the Union before and it won't start now. Build the bridge.
Oh, if you need help crafting insults that arn't shambolically lame and yell "most likely to date the teacher" from your highschool yearbook, Mary can help you with that too, 'Prave.
For Rheinland,
Gunda Riehl,
Oberstarbeiter, Wedel outpost, Hamburg System.
Transmission Ended
THE SYNDIC LEAGUES
(A co-operative of Rheinland's Shipping Unions, retired from a life of piracy.)
To: Gunda; Mr. Malprave From: Oberstarbeiter Mary Annelise Dross, Nightcrawler der Alster Union. Subject: Silence
So first things first,
Gunda, be quiet. Get your fingers out of here and use them for something more fun. I didn't saw any insult and the Hackers know how they can speak to me and how they get killed.
I can handle things alone!
Now to you Mr. Malprave,
Yeah I got involved in that Harmony stuff but I didn't really care. And like Gunda said, our alliance is now stable.
You said your attention is directed towards Shikoku... Can we help you with something ? Munitions, or other supplies ? Men power ?
Just say it and I will check what is doable for my Nightcrawlers.
Name me a time and a place where we can meet. But give me some time, I am right now not even close to Rheinland, bounded in a Trail.
If you want a meeting soon, I would have to hand you over to another Arbeiter. If you want to speak with me personal give me a bit time.
Like I said, I trust you and I hope you trust me.
Sincerely,
Für die Union, für Unser Rheinland
Mary Annelise Dross
Oberstarbeiter, Deep in the Omicrons
To: Mary. From: Gunda Riehl. Subject: Be nice. Mary's not coming to you on her knees, she's coming to you as an equal. This is an alliance between mutual, equal, parties. We are not going to fence with you.
C'mon honey, don't kick me down. Unless you want me to use my fingers for "more fun" live over the neuralnet, in which case, get out of the edge worlds already.
What if we sent Zelinksy instead? She's your veritable plus one for the 'Crawlers and she's been itching rusted hairpins to get away from the Hesse. She's a good agent. Would be perfect for the role, won't have to span a good hundred lightyears either.
For Rheinland,
Gunda Riehl,
Oberstarbeiter, Wedel outpost, Hamburg System.
Transmission Ended
THE SYNDIC LEAGUES
(A co-operative of Rheinland's Shipping Unions, retired from a life of piracy.)
To: Gunda Riehl, Oberstarbeiter From: Oberstarbeiter Mary Annelise Dross, Nightcrawler der Alster Union. Subject: Silence
Gunda,
Like I said, be quiet. If the Lane Hackers want me, deal with it. If they accept Sofia it's fine too. I know how to command my Nightcrawlers.
So please get yourself with your fingers to the Omicrons and let's have fun.
Oh before I forgett it, can you go to the Sanctum and handle that
for me first ?
Passionately,
Für die Union, für Unser Rheinland
Mary Annelise Dross
Oberstarbeiter, Deep in the Omicrons
Please accept my sincere apologies if you found my familiarizing tone offensive. We middle-aged old farts tend to act like idiots in the presence of attractive young women such as yourself. Trying to be cool and not sound like a living fossil is not my strong suit it seems.
Just between you and me, I can confess that I am a very simple minded creature. I divide attractive women into lovely, nice, unpleasant and very unpleasant. The lovely ones react with a joyful consent - to a proposal of going to bed together - the nice ones with a happy laughter. Unpleasant ones react in a way that is unpredictable - like drawing up a plasma pistol. As for the very unpleasant ones a sheer thought of making such a proposal brings a strange cold on the back and trembling of knees. For instance, our beloved Professor Hunter while beautiful is very unpleasant.
As for the business side of things - I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Shikoku... Shikoku... Shikoku... I doubt that Die Union could be involved in skirmishes[reference] so far away from Bering. However, if you do posses a freighter wing I can try to arrange a contact with the Defilers[intelligence report] so you could offer them services of your Nightcrawlers.
But I do have a more diabolic idea for your people. Almost year ago we completed a daring joint[communication] operation[operation report] in the heart of The Corsair space. We do invite you now to do the same but in the heart of The Outcast space. We could get a good price on Beumont and also deliver some to Knight since she asked so nicely.
To: Adrian Malprave From: Oberstarbeiter Mary Annelise Dross, Nightcrawler der Alster Union. Subject: Silence
Dear Mr.Malprave
Diabolic ? Count me in !
No Serious, I am still in the Omicrons but I will be soon back in Rheinland.
Then we can start your diabolic plan, what should be bring for that trip ?
A bunch of transport vessels and some escorts ?
But for now I will Ravensberg handle the rest. Cause I need to focus on the Trial.
Sincerely,
Für die Union, für Unser Rheinland
Mary Annelise Dross
Oberstarbeiter, Deep in the Omicrons